Check out our hotel bucket list for when travel restrictions are eased and travelling can once again be enjoyed freely.
For a winter wonderland experience from day to night we are checking in at Lapland Hotels SnowVillage in Finland. Every year the snow hotel carves out a new theme and 2021's creation has been declared Macro World, shrinking its guests into fun-size visitors with the hotel décor multiplied in size. Open until the 11th of April, the boutique hotel boasts 9 rooms, an ice cinema, an ice bar, and an ice restaurant where MasterChef contestant Sirly Ylläsjärvi is at the helm of the world's very first Chef's Table in an ice restaurant serving Finnish delicacies.
For a mental and physical detox we are heading to Alsace to La Cheneaudière Hotel & Spa, a 5-star gem found nestled in the Bruche Valley where its tranquil surroundings immediately put guests in relaxation mode. The highlight of this discrete luxury hotel is its spa where guests can enjoy relaxing massages and facials using artisanal natural and organic products, further connecting every experience to nature. The spa also boasts Europe's largest flotarium, a salt-water pool, and a Pine Tree sauna, built on stilts, the sauna helps to relieve stress while offering a panoramic view of the surrounding mountains. The winner of the Prix Villégiature award for Best Breakfast in a Hotel in Europe, La Cheneaudière also offers quite the morning spread getting us to gladly set our alarms early so as not to miss out on the soft pretzels, regional cheese and artisanal spreads to start our mornings on the right foot.
To make up for last year's lost summer break we're plunging head first into the turquoise blue water of the Como Parrot Cay swimming pool. The Turks and Caicos luxury hotel is a dream-filled accommodation with a spa, tennis courts, yoga studio and its very own coconut and banana plantation where the fruits are grown and used by the resident chefs, promoting sustainable living and farm to table dining. Overlooking the beach, the hotel boasts rooms, suites, beach houses and villas, with the villas and beach houses featuring their own private pools and direct access to the beach.
Synonymous with Dubai, Burj Al Arab is the epitome of luxury. For first-class service and to feel on top of the world this is where we're unpacking our bags. Built on its own island, home to six restaurants, and suites with stunning views, the iconic sail-shaped hotel is a welcome invitation to anyone who wants to splurge a little after a year spent mostly at home in lockdown. Look down on the cosmopolitan city from the spa pool, perched 150 metres above the Arabian Gulf, sip cocktails at the Skyview Bar & Restaurant for a breathtaking view served with your drink, and enjoy sunkissed days by the pool or lazing on the hotel's private beach.
For the glitz and glamour of Monte Carlo our hotel key is opening a suite at the Hotel Metropole Monte-Carlo. The historical hotel, built in 1886, overlooks the Mediterranean Sea and offers world-renowned luxury in every corner. Boasting 125 rooms and 64 suites, the legendary hotel is the playground of the rich and famous with its Penthouse sprawled over an impressive 2500 square feet. The Metropole is also the home to the Spa Metropole by Givenchy, the only spa to feature a space designed by the late fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld. And the cherry on the cake for foodies, the hotel features two Michelin-starred restaurants including Yoshi, the only Japanese restaurant on the Côte d'Azur to be awarded the prestigious star.